Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) is a preferred term (versus ESL, ELL, etc.) for an individual or group of individuals whose culture and language differ from that of the dominant group (Herrera, 2016).

This terminology:

• decenters English and English proficiency
• appreciates the inseparability of language and culture in the learning environment
• recognizes cultural and linguistic variance as an asset in learning and teaching

If you believe a student you know may benefit from working with the Office of CLD Education, please email cwalter@coloradocollege.edu, carbon copy the student on the email, include the reason for the referral, and any course-specific context that may be useful. The Office of CLD Education, student, and professor will then be encouraged to work collaboratively on pursuing academic success. Please see below for next steps.

A few notes to keep in mind:

The Office of CLD Education rebukes the traditional remediation model that has structured, and plagued, academic support for CLD students in many higher education contexts for decades (Shapiro, 2011). In a remediation model, students’ challenges are not often addressed by accommodating pedagogy or classroom instruction. Instead, students are referred to academic support services to be remediated. This approach is ineffective. Instead, we adopt a shared responsibility model in which support services and classroom pedagogies work together to best support CLD students.

Traditionally, CLD students, especially international CLD students, are viewed as successful if they participate in a western academic community by using English and cultural conventions fluently. This assimilationist perspective views a one-way transfer of language and culture: students should acclimate to English and western academic contexts and leave any other language and culture behind. In contrast, through a culturally and linguistically responsive lens, CLD students’ differences are recognized as strengths in their learning which should be supported and nurtured alongside their new academic experiences.

Reading, writing, listening, and speaking in another language demand a higher cognitive load than doing so in one’s first language. Higher cognitive loads require greater processing time. Thus, allowing CLD students extra time on an assignment or assessment is an equitable, linguistically responsive practice. Students and instructors should discuss with each other to determine realistic expectations and assessment modifications. The Office of CLD Education can also assist with this process.

There are several ways pre-existing course materials and content can be easily modified to best facilitate learning for CLD students.

Here are a few ideas to get started:

• TiP: Lecturing for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
• TiP: Contextualizing Content for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
• Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education: Teaching Remotely on the Block Plan
• How to Make Your Teaching More Inclusive

For a course-specific question, email cwalter@coloradocollege to talk specifically about your context.

The Office of CLD Education provides the following for educators:

• One-on-one or department wide workshops on culturally and linguistically diverse approaches to working with, teaching, and assessing CLD students
• One-on-one consultations for syllabus, course, and assessment design
• Faculty research and scholarly work consults

Linguistic racism is a form of discrimination based on accent (spoken or written), dialect, or speech patterns (Dovchin, 2020). Linguistic racism can also be defined as the ideologies and practices that are utilized to conform, normalize, and reformulate an unequal and uneven linguistic power between language users (Skutnabb-Kangas 2015).

Linguistic prejudice is often reinforced by penalizing students for using their own voices and Englishes in their work. An emphasis on “standardized” Academic American English without educational opportunities to study such form of English can be problematic. 

Read more about combating linguistic bias and racism here, here, here, and here.

The Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education is committed to facilitating equitable academic experiences for the CLD population at Colorado College, including international and domestic students, staff, and faculty by providing academic and cultural support via courses, consultations, programming, pedagogical support for faculty, and campus partnerships. The Office of CLD Education unequivocally upholds the antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) mission of the College and uses the mission to guide our work.

Feel free to email cwalter@coloradocollege.edu!